My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lewis County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Joseph Hildmann, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Germany in 1858, the only child of Joseph and Sophia (Webber) Hildmann, who never left the fatherland. The father was born about 1837, and received a good education. He was married twice, his first wife being the mother of our subject. He was president of several manufacturing corporations, and was a leader of the fire department of Freiburg. He was prominently engaged in the oil business, and in agriculture. He died about 1877, and the mother, born in 1841, died when our subject was but two weeks old. Both parents were Catholics. Our subject was educated at the citizens’ high school, at Freiburg, and when sixteen became bookkeeper in a large establishment, but after about two years he spent the same length of time as an employe on Bismarck’s large farm. His knowledge of America led him to come here in 1878, and he at once went on a farm in Adams County, Ill., where, with exception of the year 1880 spent in his native country, he remained until 1882, when he came to this county, and bought his present estate of 160 acres. It is finely improved, and lies near Lewiston. He is one of the most promising young farmers of this region. In September, 1882, he married Marie C., the daughter of Charley and Marie Baugard, of Quincy, Ill. Their only child is Joseph. Our subject is a Democrat, and a Catholic, and his wife is a member of the Lutheran Church.

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This family biography is one of 293 biographies included in the Lewis County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Lewis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lewis County, Missouri family biographies here: Lewis County, Missouri Biographies

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